Since 1992, Cyrille Varet designs and sculpts unique and stunning
pieces of furniture: chairs, tables, sofas, mirrors, lamps...
A self-taught designer, he invents a wonderfully playful world
where objects never look the same...

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His participations in several International Design Fairs
in New York, Verona, Tokyo, Frankfurt between 1993 and 1994,
lead directly to exhibitions in galleries such as Entrée Libre and Studio Zee in NY,
Strange Classic in Tokyo, as well as contracts from Macy's,
Mövenpick restaurants and Novotel NY.

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In France, his innovative furniture has embellished the sets
of more than 25 shows on national television.
(Frou Frou, Pour la Vie, J'y crois, j'y crois pas...)

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In May 1994, Cyrille Varet establishes a permanent atelier and showroom
under the "Viaduc des Arts" in Paris near Bastille, where he produces and exhibits
his unforgettable lines of furniture.
This atelier quickly becomes known as a crossroad for artistic exchange:

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In 1996 & 1997, he develops collections named Mirage, Spoutnik, Orphea, Bakyl,
unveild in a series of gala-evenings called "Metissage Nites".
The pinnacle event of this series, "Parade de Chaises", combined the world of theatre,
circus, and music to create a contemporary "happening".

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With his fresh approach, he has more and more frequent rendez-vous
with the world of entertainment: His furniture is found on stage
with French singer Veronique Sanson, in video clips,
at the recent Paris press conference of Sir Elton John.

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Among the most noteworthy examples are these grand-ladies
of the Franco-German TV Network ARTE who comment on the evenings line-up
from a theatre-red divan of a recognizable style.
Even former French president Giscard d'Estaing on the literary TV show "Le Cercle de Minuit",
presented his latest book seated on a throne worthy of Alice in her wonderland.

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Futuristic cartoonist Enki Bilal accepts an invitation to expose his work in the atelier in 1998.
In this collaboration, several pieces of furniture were created, inspired by Bilal's drawings
and then exposed side by side with the comic strip stories.
These designs were amongst those chosen to be a part of a retrospective exhibition
of 80 pieces of Cyrille Varet at Galeries Lafayette in Berlin.

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And more globetrotting...
The collection 2000 is presented at Decorex in New York, while in Japan,
the miniature chairs dubbed "baby-monsters" sturred up a storm after a Fuji TV emission
where the actor Jinay was shown shopping at the atelier in Paris.

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And then Australia comes to Paris...
First of all, painter David Bromley brings his outback style of portraiture to the atelier
under the patronage of the Australian Embassy.
Then the Bennelong restaurant sollicits Cyrille Varet's decorative talents:

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The Bennelong, recently opened near the Bastille by renowned Australian Chef
Jean Paul Bruneteau, offers a refined cuisine and a decor
of thrones, chandeliers and mirrors.
It is the latest addition to a list of Parisian restaurants and bistros featuring
his iron sculpted furniture and fixtures after le Debarcadere, le Vinea Cafe,
Ma Pomme, Le Pur'place, la Brasserie, Le Lutecia...

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Furthering an established track record of creativity and fruitful collaborations,
he affirms an ever-evolving style by establishing the Totem Collection.
Along side one of a kind creations, can be found a continuing line of functional items
bearing his recognizable stamp and which are still hand-made in the atelier.

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Each year the Totem Collection is infused with additional characteristics:
Woven steel, chiseled glass and now molded forms in plastic.
An original alliance of modern elements and traditional methods of rendering super slick steel:
La Chaise Totem, featured recently in several publications
sporting the henceforth universally familiar "@" symbol,
is manifested in a line of various "thermoformed" seats dubbed "Cristal."

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Continuing to fertilize the Totem line, symbols emanating from Japanese traditions
take root and inspire delicate reflection in metal: "Mikan", "Ume", "Sakura", "Fuji",
cherry and plum blossoms, wisteria, and ethereal climbing ivy. These motifs are engrained in glass
and pressed upon tabletops. The collection is inaugurated in March 2001 by the exposition-performance
"Paris-Tokyo-Design", a consonant encounter of 4 French and Japanese artists,
sponsored by the Maison de la Culture du Japon a Paris.

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During the summer months of 2001, the Totem Cristal Chair accrues new colors
as the fall season approaches: "Pop" shades of green, red, violet and blue...
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In 2002, Cyrille Varet develop the "Ithemba" Project.
Ithemba is a bridge between creativity, craft and humanitarian action:
Cyrille Varet has developed a range of objects, inspired by local culture in Africa,
handmade by people affected by poverty and AIDS and distributed on the web
and through a network of shops.
Ithemba has become an income generating activity for 50 women in Africa, especillay South Africa, bringing a beter living for themselves and their children.

www.ithembafrica.com

For more information, please contact our press agent Marion Schnauffer
marion@cyrillevaret.com